declawing cats....cruelty?

[RealMickeysGirl]

We decided to have our first cats declawed (our 3 boys) when they started tearing up the door facings in our first appartment - this was the first year we were married.

We have had all since then declawed and they never had any problems - of course, I am the kind of person who would follow them around the house and lift them on to and off of furniture if they even looked like they wanted to jump just in case they might have any discomfort. We didn't have carpet in that first apartment so I layered blankets on the floor and put their food, water, and litter box with shreaded newspaper on the blankets so they wouldn't have to walk on the tile floors - but they didn't have any problems and for the most part acted as if nothing had happened and were kind of confused about why I moved all their stuff.

I do think people should research it before they do it - I don't want anything done to my babies with out my knowledge. If my cat is having cancer problems - I will research treatments and side effects, if it is kidney problems or fus I will research that, if it is joint problems or old age problems I will research that.

I think that people get so upset about it because it involves cutting bones. People don't seem to get as upset about docking the tails of some dog breeds but that also involves cutting bone. Ask any man if he would rather have the last joint of his fingers or his googlies cut off and see which he picks (just kidding but I really don't see much difference - surgery is surgery - but I do draw the line at surgery done for cosmetic reasons on an animal - they aren't that vain - they love the way they look.)

My cats are well loved and well cared for. Our vet said that if she had to be reincarnated, she would want to be one of our cats. (and she is the one who has taken care of the most of if not all of their lives so she knows about the declawing and the spaying and nutering.)

And just as a tribute to my furbabies:
Stieglitz - Lived to be 13 years old before cancer took him away in Nov. 1996
Buo - Lived to be 10 years old before kidney failure took him away in Jun. 1995
Anakin - lived to be 19 years old when old age took him away in March 2005
Emmie - is 6 years old and healthy
Eva - is 5 years old and healthy

 

[totalia]

Yes, its selfish and animal cruelty to do such a thing to an animal. There is no reason to do it other than the owners convenience because they don't want themselves or their furniture to be clawed (and really, so what? Clawing is part of what you live with when you have a cat). If you cant handle EVERYTHING that goes along with owning a cat, then you shouldn't have one.

 

[skiwee1]

Yes, its selfish and animal cruelty to do such a thing to an animal. There is no reason to do it other than the owners convenience because they don't want themselves or their furniture to be clawed (and really, so what? Clawing is part of what you live with when you have a cat). If you cant handle EVERYTHING that goes along with owning a cat, then you shouldn't have one.

Let see...... my cat's choices was being euthanized at the pound because someone decided they didn't want the cat any longer OR being given a wonderful and loving home where they could live out the rest of his/her life but without claws. Tough question but I think my cats are very happy I chose the last option. Don't know about your house but at my house the pets don't get a vote. I put the Fancy Feast on the table and I make the decisions around here.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yes, its selfish and animal cruelty to do such a thing to an animal. There is no reason to do it other than the owners convenience because they don't want themselves or their furniture to be clawed (and really, so what? Clawing is part of what you live with when you have a cat). If you cant handle EVERYTHING that goes along with owning a cat, then you shouldn't have one.

What would have been cruel was my mom tossing Kitty out because I couldn't get him to just use a scratching post. Hmm homeless kitty or declawed kitty in a forever home? Let me think. Kitty was trainable in other areas (he doesn't get up on counters or tables or the furniture), he just didn't catch onto the scratching post thing.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

My first cat that I owned back in 1986 did end up getting declawed because she was contantly scratching the corner of our hallway paneling . . .she was never interested in scratch posts at all, just the corner of that wood paneling. It was pretty scratched up . . .it was almost concave. I didn't feel making the decision to declaw her was cruel at all. It wasn't like they put her on the operating table fully concious and started to yank out her bones . . . .her recovery was short and she acted normal right afterwards. Believe it or not, she still tried to claw at that corner, apparently she hadn't realized that her claws were missing . . .

I now have 2 male cats . . .they both have their claws, they both use a scratch post, they don't do any damage at all . . .well, except chew through wires, but that's another thread . . . .

So, for me, NO, it is not cruel.

 

[totalia]

Hmmm, lets see. Both are bad.

If you cant get him to use a scratching post, find him another owner. The answer is very simple.

Again, if you can't take EVERYTHING that goes along with owning a cat, don't have one. Simple.

My cat also doesn't scratch on scratching posts for the most part. I've caught her occasionally scratching on the furniture. But you know what? So what? I KNEW that was a possibility when I took her in because that is natural kitty behavior. Everyone knows that or they are extremely brainless.

If you cannot accept a cat for the good and the bad, including peeing on the carpet, the occasional scratch, scatching the furniture, climbing up on cubboards, counters, and tables, and other very kitty-like actions, then you should not have the pet.

What you do is try to change those behaviors. But you are not always successful. Your animal is not perfect. Thats life.

Find it another home where it will be greatly loved despite its faults. Because that is what the animal deserves. A loving caring home that will not give it surgery to alter its habits for their own convenience.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I know this is slightly OT but has anyone used SoftPaws? They are plastic covers that are glued to the cats claws. I heard about them on another board awhile back. I have never had a cat so I can't contribute anything else to this discussion.

http://www.softpaws.com

Nicole

Wow, I can't believe it took so long for someone to mention these! This should be the first thing any veterinarian mentions before performing the surgery. That being said, I must say that these are a terrific pain to apply and keep on a cat. Some people can do it for some cats, but most cannot. Remember, these are people that for the most part are unwilling to trim their cat's nails, or cats that are unmenable to the process. You end up with superglue all over your fingers, and sticking the kitties' toes together. I wish they worked better, but the truth is, with 3 years' experience applying the d..n things, I don't think they're the best solution.

As far as reasons for declawing go, the only good reason (for those who believe it to be a good reason) is to spare your furniture. Those who say it's to spare their children are fooling themselves. A cat predisposed to aggressive behavior will do FAR more damage with its teeth than it ever could with its claws. The most vicious cats I ever came across in veterinary practice were declawed, and they were the ones who inflicted the most damage to the staff. Cat bites are notoriously infectious (think of where that tongue has been!), and while scratches certainly sting and bleed, and can cause infection, too, they don't go nearly as deep, and usually are more open to the air. If you keep nails trimmed, they don't hurt nearly as bad, either.

Finally, declawing is the most painful procedure cats can go through. I've seen cats going through penile urethrostomy (removal of ***** and enlarging of urethral opening) come through with much less pain than declawing. There are just that many more nerve endings in the tips of the digits. Yes, they eventually heal from both, but I've seen cats that seem to suffer from "phantom digit pain" at the amputation site, chewing their paws raw until finally the vet ends up euthanizing the poor kitty anyway. Can't say that justifies the procedure for me.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I put the Fancy Feast on the table and I make the decisions around here.

Um..Tag fairy....This is just screaming at you

 

[CheshireVal]

To me, declawing a cat is like saying that your furniture is more important than a living thing. It's illegal in a lot of countries around the world, and for a good reason. If people in the US weren't so obsessed with material things, then it would probably be illegal here, too.

I lost everything I owned in a house fire when I was 12. It kind of made me realize how not important furniture really is in the grand scheme of things.

I would never declaw my cats. They've scratched up a bit of my old beat up sofa, but really I couldn't care less. I love them and don't want to see them hurt unnecessarily.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Finally, declawing is the most painful procedure cats can go through. I've seen cats going through penile urethrostomy (removal of ***** and enlarging of urethral opening) come through with much less pain than declawing. There are just that many more nerve endings in the tips of the digits.

UrsulasShadow, are you a veterinarian?

 

[UrsulasShadow]

UrsulasShadow, are you a veterinarian?

Nope. Cert. Animal Health Tech. in a previous life. I'd like to hear more about the laser surgery thing, though....if it reduces trauma to the nerve endings and speeds healing time, I might get a more moderate view of the subject.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

To me, declawing a cat is like saying that your furniture is more important than a living thing. It's illegal in a lot of countries around the world, and for a good reason. If people in the US weren't so obsessed with material things, then it would probably be illegal here, too.

I lost everything I owned in a house fire when I was 12. It kind of made me realize how not important furniture really is in the grand scheme of things.

I would never declaw my cats. They've scratched up a bit of my old beat up sofa, but really I couldn't care less. I love them and don't want to see them hurt unnecessarily.

Nicely put! And since other people have thrown out ridiculous comparisions, I want to say this, kids ruin furniture also, what is done about them?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LOL, my kids have done more damage to my house than my dogs ever thought of doing! I'll keep them anyway.

 

[Beth76]

And since other people have thrown out ridiculous comparisions, I want to say this, kids ruin furniture also, what is done about them?

Well since my kids are people and cats are not (despite the belief of one DISer), I'll forgive the kids. Besides my reasoning was to protect myself and my children. I do not want us getting scratched by the cat. And I don't think we should have to tolerate that just because we have a cat. My cat is loved, housed and well-fed. She's happy and I doubt she misses her claws.

 

[JennyMominRI]

double post

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I had one of our cats declawed after she went to town on our brand-new bedroom set. Nothing we tried got her to stop. I had no idea what it entailed, though, until I went to pick her up at the vet's afterward. The vet said she needed another day of recovery, but I went in to love her up a little before I went home. There she was, bound past the "elbow", struggling to stand up and get over to me, terrified and in obvious pain. While she never seemed to miss her claws - she'd take on her brothers and beat them handily - I'll never, ever, forget that moment in the vet's office. Now, many years later, I have a new cat (who often seems to channel the old one), and I'd let her shred everything I had before I'd be responsible for that kind of suffering ever again. Luckily, my new sweetheart uses her claws only on her scratching post and an unfinished, "rustic" style newel post upstairs - I can live with that!

 

[totalia]

To go off topic for a second......

Out of curiosity, how many of you that are so against declawing have sons that are circumsized? For the record, mine aren't.

I don't have kids so I can't answer that. Sorry. Would I? I don't know. My fiance and I haven't talked about it. We'd come to the decision together.

One thing that I have heard is that circumcision prevents infection. So yes, there are reasons. Not that it will always work, but it will help.

 

[totalia]

To me, declawing a cat is like saying that your furniture is more important than a living thing. It's illegal in a lot of countries around the world, and for a good reason. If people in the US weren't so obsessed with material things, then it would probably be illegal here, too.

I lost everything I owned in a house fire when I was 12. It kind of made me realize how not important furniture really is in the grand scheme of things.

I would never declaw my cats. They've scratched up a bit of my old beat up sofa, but really I couldn't care less. I love them and don't want to see them hurt unnecessarily.

Stuff is just stuff. I lived out of one suitcase for six months (not for any horrible reason. I was travelling). Now "stuff" just isn't important.

I think the fact that people are willing to cause their pets major life changing surgery for their own convenience is a sign that greed has become far too acceptable.

 

[Beth76]

One thing that I have heard is that circumcision prevents infection. So yes, there are reasons. Not that it will always work, but it will help.

That's pretty much a non-issue anymore. Even my doctor said the only reason to do it anymore is to prevent "locker room embarrasment". That doesn't really seem like a valid reason to me. Especially when we're talking about people.

And if you want a good reason to declaw cats that has nothing to do with benefitting people..... I've seen my cats (before they were declawed) get their claws stuck in things. I've even had a cat climb up a screen door and get stuck. Good thing we were home; who knows how long he could have been hanging there.

 

[totalia]

Well since my kids are people and cats are not (despite the belief of one DISer), I'll forgive the kids. Besides my reasoning was to protect myself and my children. I do not want us getting scratched by the cat. And I don't think we should have to tolerate that just because we have a cat. My cat is loved, housed and well-fed. She's happy and I doubt she misses her claws.

Just because your cats aren't human doesn't make them unimportant and say that you can effectively torture your animal with pain. It's like saying you can beat a dog with a board when it barks too much just because it isn't human.

Life is life. And life should not have to suffer unneccesarily.